Angel Or She-devil

She recognised the voice and felt like screaming in frustration. What the hell was he doing here?

Violet resumed walking, her steps lengthening. No one was supposed to see her.   

“Wait,” Sean heard him speak, a slight slur to his voice. The fool was drunk. Violet quickened her pace. But that dog wasn’t giving up.  

Her ears perked up in alert when she heard him walking through the stream. She almost ran. Water spilling from her pot. 

“Don’t run,” Sean commanded, following her. 

In her haste to dodge him, her foot struck a pebble, and she stumbled forward. The pot slipped from her grasp and shattered against the ground. She hit the earth with a gasp, knees scraping against the dirt. Sean rushed forward and stood over her.  

“You okay?” he asked, holding out his hand for her. Violet ground her teeth. 

She rudely batted his hand away and pushed herself up. She raised her head and fixed him with a glare. Recognition lit his eyes, and his soft expression soured into a scowl. She was no angel but the she-devil. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he spat, recoiling. Disappointment couldn't be more evident on his face.  

“Fucking creep. You broke my pot,” Violet shot back angrily. Sean glanced at the shattered pieces of pot, but no guilt reflected on his face. 

He looked back at her, still mad. “Nobody gives a fuck about your pot. Call me creep one more time and I’ll show you how worse I can get,” Sean threatened her, already disappointed. 

Violet bit back the snarky reply that almost tumbled out of her mouth. She had no time to waste on him. 

Instead of responding to his threat, the woman spun on her heels and started towards the woods. 

“Where?” Sean questioned, blocking her path. His brows twisted into a suspicious frown as he took a step towards her and asked, “What are you doing in the woods at this hour?” 

Violet tensed, her spine straightening.

“Not your business,” Violet countered, eyes narrowing in disapproval.  

Sean gave her a once-over, then sneered, “Meeting a vampire, are we? Perfect. You two freaks are made for each other.”

“Rich coming from a stinky dog,” Violet bit out, having had enough of his bullshit. 

“I don’t stink,” Sean objected. 

“But you admit you are a dog,” Violet replied, shooting him a smug smirk. A muscle in his jaw ticked. 

“I heard sorceresses have a good sense of humor..You must be the only bitch with a rotting one,” Sean retorted, wiping the smirk clean off her face. 

“Witch,” Violet corrected sharply, her voice firm like steel.

“Same thing,” Sean replied mockingly. Violet clenched her fists. 

She stepped toward him. “I’m this close to turning you into a toad,” she warned. 

Sean smirked, leaning in until there was barely any space left. “But you look more like you’re this close to kissing me.”

His lips hovered near, their sensual heat ghosting hers. They were full, red, far too soft for the venom they so often spat. Violet froze as she realised their position. She had never been this close to a man. Darn it, she had never been this close to anyone in her life. Her thoughts stilled, her senses hijacked, she recoiled immediately. 

His smirk deepened upon seeing her reaction. Her glare could’ve cut through steel, but the pink creeping up her cheeks suggested he had got her. 

Sean cocked his head and asked casually, “You’ve never been kissed, have you?” His gaze then dropped to her lips, which looked irresistibly tempting in the moment. 

“Mind your own business,” Violet replied indignantly. Sean chuckled. 

“Now your attitude makes perfect sense. No kisses, no love, no man to hold you..” he remarked, amused. His lips twisted into a mock-pitying smile as he added, “Poor Violet, living life in black and white.”

Muttering a curse under her breath, Violet brushed past him and strode off in the opposite direction, her fists clenched tight at her sides.

Sean spun on his heels and watched her retreating back with a grin. He shouted after her, “It’s getting dark. If you run into a wild animal, please, do not harass that poor creature.”  

He let out a long sigh as he watched her go, then smacked a hand against his own face. Hard. Without another word, he spun around and retraced his steps, heading back the way he came.

………..

A gentle glow lit her palm as Violet conjured a pot out of thin air. She walked to the river this time, and filled the vessel to the brim. The protective flames died down the moment Violet arrived. Without hesitation, she poured the water into the bubbling brew and stepped back, her eyes fixed on the vessel. A golden shimmer ignited within the potion, swirling like liquid sunlight. The brew was prepared. Now she just had to wait for Krymath’s arrival. The scent must have reached him, and he would be here anytime soon. 

She didn’t have to wait long. Soon, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from behind the trees. His footsteps followed, echoing with a low, slow, and heavy along with guttural growl that sent Violet’s heartbeat into a frenzy. Fear gnawed at her nerves, but she still. Krymath stepped closer, his massive wings dragging through the ground, creating a scary noise. 

The monstrous creature lowered its massive head, sniffing the potion with cautious curiosity. A low grunt rumbled from its throat before it dipped down and began to drink. Violet stood frozen and watched every movement without so much as a flinch. The seconds seemed to have stretched into hours. His horn appeared to be sharper than a jagged knife. Each shiny scale along his spine looked forged for bloodshed, shield, and weapon in one. But none of it rivaled the menace of his fangs—long, curved, and made solely for tearing. He was designed to kill. 

After drinking the vessel empty, he raised his head and looked right at her. Violet’s heart stopped mid-beat. The creature stared at her for a long moment before finally turning his head away. It was only then that she dared to breathe. The creature retreated into the darkness. His growl faded with his footsteps. Violet sagged against the trunk with a sigh.